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Tyler Edenhofer was on the job for less than three months when he was killed late Wednesday night during a struggle on Interstate 10 in Arizona. Edenhofer was responding to calls about an erratic driver on the interstate when he was fatally gunned down. The suspect was able to get a duty weapon from one of the responding officers before firing off two rounds that killed Edenhofer, who graduated from the state trooper academy on May 4.
From Arizona Central:
Milstead said radio operators had started receiving calls about 10:20 p.m. Wednesday about a person driving erratically on Interstate 10 eastbound near Avondale Boulevard, throwing objects at vehicles.
Citizens were able to get the man out of the roadway, Milstead said.
One DPS trooper arrived, and then two others, Milstead said. Two Goodyear police officers also arrived to assist, he said.
As they attempted to take the man into custody, the man struggled with the troopers, and the fight lasted several minutes, Milstead said.
“During the struggle, one of the troopers lost his firearm to the subject, and the subject fired at least two rounds from the duty weapon,” Col. Frank Milstead said. Edenhofer was fatally struck by one bullet, while the other hit Trooper Dalan Dorris in the shoulder. The bullet passed through his body and he was able to survive.
Police officers lined up outside of the hospital to pay tribute to Edenhofer, who was just 24 years old.
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The police department has yet to release any information on the shooter.
“The DPS family is in mourning. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family,” Milstead said. “Lives have been shattered and ruined. We’re all in a little bit of a state of shock this morning.”
Our deepest condolences are with Edenhofer, his family, and the DPS troopers who were impacted by this tragedy.
